Storage battery filler



Nov. 20, 1956 N. J. THOMPSON STORAGE BATTERY FILLER Filed March 12, 1954IN V EN TOR. /V/L Es d. 7,2/o/v/Pso/V BY A TroRA/E Ks.

United States Patent O STORAGE BATTERY FILLER Niles J. Thompson,Williamsville, N. Y., assigner to Gould-National Batteries, Inc., St.Paul, Minn.

Application March 12, 1954, Serial N o. 415,882 Claims. (Cl. 141-57)This invention relates to storage battery filling apparatus for use, forexample, in loading lead-acid type storage batteries with electrolyte atthe factory or distributor shops or the like. More particularly the.invention relates to improvements in so-called vacuum-operated devicesfor the above stated purposes.

Whereas vacuum-operated filler nozzles have been previously developedfor such purposes, one of the objects of the present invention is toprovide an improved filler nozzle device for use in such systems, suchas may be conveniently mounted upon a work bench in company with aseries of similar nozzles for simultaneously filling a gang of storagebatteries.

Another object is to provide an improved nozzle for the aforesaidpurposes whereby a group of said nozzles may be separately connected toa vacuum sourceand manually set in electrolyte dispensing condition,whereupon they Will be automatically operable upon filling of theassociated `batteries to stop the electrolyte dispensing operations atthe proper times without further operation attention.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a vacuum-actuatedfilling nozzle device of the character described an improved vacuumcut-off arrangement, which cuts olf automatically upon filling of thecontainer into which liquid is being dispensed Without operatorattention.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnprovedvacuum-actuated dispensing nozzle device which is semi-automatic inoperation, and is adapted to be set in liquid dispensing condition withimproved facility and subsequently automatically cuts off the dispensingoperation upon filling of the associated container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device asaforesaid which is relatively inexpensively manufactured, and which isextremely rugged :and fool-proof in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as aforesaidwhich is readily adjustable with respect t0 the level to which liquidwill be dispensed in the associated container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device asaforesaid which may be readily fabricated from standard stock plastictubing parts and rubber Washers and the like, without requiring use ofthreaded fittings 0r the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thespecification hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. l illustrates application of the invention to a typical batteryassembly bench type electrolyte filling station, showing an improveddispensing nozzle arrangement of the present invention connected foractuation by a standard type water faucet vacuum generator;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the filling nozzle device ofFig. 1, showing the device in liquid dispensing or battery fillingcondition;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing ICC the nozzledevice in inactive or non-dispensing condition;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism of Figs. 2-3; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken along line V-V of Fig. 2.-

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the device of the invention is shown as beingembodied in a storage battery electrolyte filling apparatus including awork Vbench designated 10, upon which may be placed a series of storagebattery cases such as is indicated at 12. Electrolyte supply jars may beconveniently stored under the work bench as indicated at 14, and asuitably acid-resistant tube as indicated at 16 is arranged to dip intoeach jar for sucking the electrolyte therefrom and dispensing it intothe battery cell 12, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The filling nozzle of the present invention is indicated generally at20, and as shown in Figs. 1-3 is arranged to be inserted at its lowerend into the conventional filler opening 22 of the storage battery case.As shown in detail in Figs. 2-5, the filling nozzle device comprises agenerally cylindrically shaped casing 24 into which is slip-fitted aninner tube 26. The outer casing 24 may be conveniently molded ofsemi-soft neoprene rubber or plastic or any other suitableacid-resistant material, whereas the inner tube member 26 may `beconveniently formed of some suitably acid-resistant but more rigidlmaterial such as hard rubber or plastic or the like. The casing 24 isformed with a counterbore portion 27 at its upper end terminating in anoverhanging flange 28 so as to retain therein a soft rubber washer 30which is slip-fitted in place, for purposes to be explained hereinafter.The fit of the washer 30 under the flange 28 and in the counterboreportion is so loose as to provide a free communication between thecentral bore portion of the casing and the ambient atmosphere whenwasher 30 is in the position shown in Figure 3.

The casing 24 is also formed with a reduced throat portion 32 whichintercommunicates the central bore portion of the casing and thecounterbore portion 27 thereof; an-d the inner tube 26 is provided witha reduced collar portion 34 to complement the throat portion 32 of thecasing. The inner tube 26 is also formed with a longitudinal passageway36 in a sidewall portion of the tube, and the casing and tube membersare both laterally apertured in relatively aligned positions so as toaccommodate in slip-fitted connected relation therein short nipples asillustrated at 37-38.

The nipples 37-38 are also conveniently formed of some suitable acidresistant plastic material or the like, and particular attention iscalled to the fact that the nipple 37 is arranged in communication withthe main central bore of the inner tube 26 and extends laterally fromthe device for a slip-fit connection with the electrolyte conveying hose16. The nipple 38 intercommuni cates with the inner passageway 36 andextends laterally from the device for a slip-fit connection with a hose40 leading to any suitable vacuum source. Thus, for example as shown inFig. 1, the hose 40 may be coupled to the vacuum port of an inspiratordevice as indicated at 42 arranged to be operated by a water faucet orthe like as indicated at 44. As shown in Fig. 1 the hose 40 may bebroken and coupled into a catch basin device as ,indicated at 45 fortrapping any electrolyte such as may gain access into the hose 40 fromthe filler nozzle; but it is to be understood that the inspirator or anyother suitable source of vacuum may be otherwise suitably connected tothe vacuum supply nipple 38 of the filler device, in lieu of thespecific arrangement shown.

The inner bore of the main casing 24 is provided with inwardly extendingpressure-sealing ring portions 46-47 straddling the position of inlet ofthe vacuum connection;

Patented Nov. 20, 1956v The inner tube 26 is dimensiorieclvvlongitudinally so as to extend a substantial distance below the bottomend ofthe casing 24, and a soft sponge rubber washer or the like asindicated at 48 is slip-fitted overthe bottom end of the inner tubeagainst the bottom of the casing'24 as shown in Figs. 2 3.. Thus, thefilling nozzle device may be inserted at itslower end into theconventional lling port 22 of a storage battery case in such manner thatthe sponge rubber washer 48V rests upon the upper end of the lillingport while the inner tube member 26 extends downwardly into the interiorof the battery cell. Then, upon generation of a vacuum in the hose 4t?,as may be obtained by opening the water faucet 44, the air inthe hose40. is drawn through the inspiratorV 42, thus setting up. a partialIvacuum in the inner passageway 36 of: thenozzle device.

If atthis. time the soft rubberwasher 30' at the top of the. nozzleAdevice is manually pressed downwardly as to the position thereof shownin Fig. 2, the washer 30 will thereby close the neck portion 34 oftheinner tube 26,

thus` cutting off any ingress, of air through the top of the nozzledevice around the washer 30; Hence, a partial vacuum condition will beset up interiorly of the battery cell, whereby electrolyte` will besucked up throughL the hose 1.6 and into the central bore portion of thenozzle device-and thence downwardly into the battery cell. Immediatelyupon such establishment of a vacuum condition resulting in electrolyteflow through the nozzle device, the controlwasher-30 may be releasedbythe attendant. The vacuum condition within the nozzle device thereuponopcrates to maintain the washer 30 downwardly in the portsealingposition as shown in Fig.V 2, so that the attendant may then` move on tothe next battery filling position for repetition of the. procedure onthe other batteries of the series.

Upon lilling of the battery case, such. as to the level of. theelectrolyte as indicated at 50 in Fig. 3, the closing of the bottom endof the passageway 36 by the electrolyte will cut off the supply ofvacuum to the central bore whereby the control washer 30 willbe releasedandi will. thereupontend tospring upwardly to itsnormal or4 openpositiony as illustrated inEig. 3. In fact, at thismoment the ow ofelectrolyte intoA the. nozzle device will' have attainedl suchymomentum, that it momentarily establishes a pressurized condition asdistinguished from4 a partial vacuum condition withinthe inner bore ofthe device, thereby further facilitating, spring-back of theA controlwasher 30 to its open position. It will be appreciatedV ofcourse, thatupon opening ofthe washer 30 thevacuum drawing the electrolyte from thebottle 14 will be disconf tinued, whereby the battery cell fillingloperatiorrisl automatically terminated without attention bythe stationoperator. The residue of electrolyteinthe central: bore is then syphonedback through the hose 161 into theV supply bottle; Any acid remaining`in thepassageway '36.wi11. besucked'A over into the catch jar 45 forperiodic recovery.

By mounting the plastic hose. devices16-.40 through suitably aperturedportionsof a back board52,extending vertically fromvthe workbench 10, asshown in Fig,l 1, the

hoses may thereby be supported so that the filling nozzles 2t)Vl arenottiltedsuch as Wouldoccur if the hoses were permitted` to droop. Suchtiltingrwouldof course break the vacuum seal; Thus, a series of suchhose and nozzle devices may be arranged at intervals along the workbench,l and a large number of battery cases may be loaded and` unloadedfrom the lling positions thereunder bya single attendant who merelypresses down uponthe washer, 3:0`

of' each nozzle to simultaneously'mount the nozzle one. battery tillingport and startthe .electrolyte dispensingpoperation. The nozzlethereafter automatically cuts olii as the battery cells are successivelyfilled while. the attendant is elsewhere loading or un1oading otherbatferite- I'claim:

l. A storage battery electrolyte filling apparatus comprisingra casingmember having a vertical'inner. bore, a. dualj compartment tube membermounted, within. said bore, said casing member having an air passagewayat its upper endl intercommunicating the ambient atmosphere with a firstone compartment of said inner tube, a source of electrolyte liquidsupply in open communication with said first compartment of said innertube, a vacuum source in communication with the other of saidcompartments at its upper end, both of said compartments being open attheir bottom ends in communication with the interior of a storagebattery cell when said casing member is mounted upon the ller opening ofsaid cell, and a spring washer carried by the upper endof-said casingand' adapted to be elastically deformed into compartment sealing contactwith the upper end of said, passageway whereby vacuum forces within saidother compartment will cause electrolyte to be drawn into said rstcompartment and delivered therefrom into said battery cell until suchtime as the level of electrolyte in said cell reaches the bottom end ofsaid other compartment whereupon the vacuum forces drawingelectrolyteinto said' first compart-V ment willi be interrupted.

2. A storage battery electrolyte filling apparatus com,- prising acasing member havingV a vertical inner bore, a tube within said borehaving a main compartment extendL ing therethrough and a shortsupplemental compartment extending from the lower end of the tube partway'up its length, said casing member having an air passageway at( itsupper end intercommunicating the ambientl atmosphere with said maincompartment of said-inner-tube, aY source of electrolyte liquid supplyin open= communication with: said main compartmentl of said inner tube,a vacuumsource in communication with said supplemental' compartment atits upper end, both of' said compartments being open, at their bottomends incommunicationy with the interior ofI a storage battery cell whensaidcasing member is` mounted upon the ller opening of! said cell', a:gasket at the bottom end of said casing, and a. spring disc-carried bythe upper end of saidcasing and. adaptedv to beelastically deformed intocompartment-sealing Contact'. with the upper end of said passagewaywhereby vacuum forceswithfin said supplemental compartment' willY causelelectrolyte to be drawn into said main compartment andldeliveredltherr-=frominto saidV battery cell until; such time as thelevel. ofelectrolyteinY said cellreachesthe bottoml end of said; supplementalA compartmentwhereupon theV vacuum forces. drawing electrolyte into said maincompartment.v willbe interrupted.

3. A device for iillinga storage battery. withf electro; lyte comprisinga body member having, dualboresjlead-y ing, thereintofrom an open endbatteryy connection por-- tion thereof, said: body. member having anainpassagewayl at its other end intercommunicating the ambient` atmospherewith. one of. the bores of saidbody memben, a source of electrolyteliquidl supply in; open communicafv tion with said' last mentioned boreavacuum sourcefincommunication with the other of said bores and anormally open resilient: valve memberl carried; by4 saidotherend of thebody andadapted to` be manually. movablev into air passageway sealingposition whereby' vacuumv forces within said bores will causeelectrolyte; to be drawn into said device and delivered therefrom at theopenendk thereof until such time as the. level of electrolytein said,Vv

battery reachesV the-bottom endsof saidbores whereupon theV vacuumforces drawing electrolyte into said device will be interrupted.

4. A storageA battery electrolyte lling apparatus comprising a casingmemberhavingdual-verticalbores therein, said casing member having au airpassageway at its upper end, intercommuuicatingV the ambientatmospherewith a rst one. ofsaidibores, alsource of electrolyte liquid supply inopen, communication withA said firstv bore, avacuum sourceincommunicationwith.. the otherof said bores, both of said boresbeingzopen at-their bottomeends" incomniunicationwiththe interior of astorage battery cell when said casing member. iszmounted'upon thetillerA opening of said cell, andvanormallyA openresilient:valve`membercarried by the upper end of' said casing` and adapted to bemanually displaced against the resiliency of said valve member into airpassageway sealing contact with the upper end of said passageway,whereby vacuum forces within said device will cause electrolyte to bedrawn thereinto and delivered therefrom into said battery cell untilsuch time as the level of electrolyte in said cell reaches the bottomend of said bores whereupon the vacuum forces drawing electrolyte intosaid rst compart-y ment will be interrupted and the Valve member will bereleased to return to open position.

5. A storage battery electrolyte filling apparatus comprising a casingmember having a vertical inner bore, a dual compartment tube membermounted within said bore, said casing member having an air passageway atits upper end intercommunicating the ambient atmosphere with a rst onecompartment of said inner tube, a source of electrolyte liquid supply inopen communication with said iirst compartment of said inner tube, avacuum source in communication with the other of said compartments atits upper end, both of said compartments being open at their bottom endsin communication with the interior of a storage battery cell when saidcasing member is mounted upon the iillei opening of said cell, and anormally open resilient valve member carried by the upper end of saidcasing and adapted to be manually displaced against the resiliencythereof into air passageway sealing contact with the upper end of saidpassageway, whereby vacuum forces within said device will cause saidvalve to be held in closed position and electrolyte to be drawn intosaid first compartment and delivered therefrom into said battery celluntil such time as the level of electrolyte in said cell reaches thebottom end of said other compartment whereupon the vacuum forces drawingelectrolyte into said frst compartment will be interrupted and the valvewill be released to return to open position.

References Cited in the Ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,415,559 Hickman May 9, 1922 1,956,968 Altmayer et al. May 1, 19342,001,210 Morse May 14, 1935 2,139,477 Townsend Dec. 6, 1938 2,274,118Altmayer Feb. 24, 1942

